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Quail Hollow & Rancho Rio Firewise Communities Educational Event 2025

Home Hardening/ Defensible Space

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  • Welcome and Introductions�
  • Excerpt of PBS Video: “The REAL Story of the LA Fires”�(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiX9t_wovEY)

This is part of the PBS Terra Weathered series, accessible on their YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@pbsterra �

  • Presentations on Home Hardening/ Defensible Space by QH & RR neighbors��Lisa Russell, John Gerbrandt, and Alex Groswird �
  • Q&A and Panel Discussion on Home Hardening/ Defensible Space

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  • Closing comments

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  • Visit the SLV Fire Safety Trailer and Wildland Brush Engine

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Quail Hollow & Rancho Rio Firewise Communities Educational Event 2025

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  1. January 7, 2025, Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles & Altadena, Los Angeles County��Section 1 (4:57-6:10): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiX9t_wovEY&t=299s

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Quail Hollow & Rancho Rio Firewise Communities Educational Event 2025

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Presentation: Lisa Russell, Rancho Rio Firewise Group

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Home Hardening Task List: CalFire: fire.ca.gov/home-hardening

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  • Garage
  • Vents
  • Visible address
  • Gutters
  • Fences and gates
  • Walls and siding
  • Windows, skylights, and screens
  • Roof dormers

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  • Roofs
  • Eaves and soffits
  • Chimney screens
  • Decks
  • Water supply
  • Zone 0
  • Sheds

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Zone 0: Moved firewood and garbage cans away from house siding

Water sources at each corner of house and property

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Vent upgrade and no foundation planting

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Old ¼” vent

New Vulcan vent

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Non-combustible buffer zone created, upgraded vents

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“L” Flashing between wood deck and house siding

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Enclosed under-deck with ember-resistant mesh

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No deck skirting

Ember-resistant wire mesh skirt

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Enclosed under-deck with corrugated tin, removed plants

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Replaced wood gate with metal gate as a fire break

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When old wooden fencing needed replacement, we used galvanized steel

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Added Hardie fiber cement siding to areas of home with combustible siding

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Open wooden soffits with older ¼” vents

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Enclosed soffits with Hardie fiber cement siding and ember resistant vents

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Note roofing overlaps where debris accumulates

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Roofing overlap sealed up with combustion-resistant material, making maintenance easier

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Presentation: John Gerbrandt, Quail Hollow Firewise Group

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Presentation: Alex Groswird, Quail Hollow Firewise Group

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Quail Hollow & Rancho Rio Firewise Communities Educational Event 2025

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Q&A Panel with

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  • Lisa Russell, Rancho Rio Firewise Group
  • Alex Groswird, Quail Hollow Firewise Group
  • John Gerbrandt, Quail Hollow Firewise Group
  • Chief Stacie Brownlee, Ben Lomond Fire Department
  • Chief Jeff Maxwell, Zayante Fire Department

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Moderator: Jeff Wells, Quail Hollow Firewise Group

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Final Comments - Jeff Wells

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Fire Safety Training Trailer - Chief Brownlee and

Wildland Brush Engine - Chief Maxwell

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